Volkswagen has experienced a significant growth in popularity over the last decade on the back of competitive pricing and quality products, led by the popular Golfand Polo. It currently ranks eighth on the sales charts as it recovers from a turbulent year in 2013 that was racked by a prominent recall, but is less than 2000 sales behind the likes of Nissanand Mitsubishi ahead of it.

The brand's local boss, John White, told Drive during the launch of the Golf GTI Performance and Golf R in Victoria earlier this week that VW's aspirations of overtaking the Japanese rivals hinges on a broader range of SUVs.

He admitted he is lobbying his German headquarters for access to the mid-sized Crossblue SUV that will be built exclusively in the US and is also awaiting a suitable city-sized SUV to attack the increasing number of cars in that segment.

"Our objective is become one of the top five manufacturers in Australia," he said.

"There is a couple of brands close to us and we have our eyes set on moving up the ladder.

"[But] we need a couple more SUVs to achieve our aspirations," he added.

"We need a mid-sized SUV first and foremost. For sure, we want [the Crossblue], but it will depend on whether it will be built in right-hand drive first. We're in discussions with Germany on that at the moment.

"We need something Polo-sized as well, and we need to do more with the Tiguan."

Despite the seven-seat Crossblue being longer and wider than the company's flagship SUV, the Touareg, it is expected to be positioned between that and the Tiguan when it goes into production later this year.

The concept car, which was first displayed at the 2013 Detroit motor show, was powered by a plug-in diesel powertrain with two electric motors that provides a combined output of 225kW and, with the ability to run for up to 35km on electric power alone, has a claimed average fuel consumption of 2.1L/100km. It is expected that, while a plug-in hybrid variant will sit at the top of the Crossblue range, it will be supported by a range of model variants powered by conventional petrol and diesel engine options.

As for the baby SUV, Volkswagen isn't short on options with the Up-based Taigun set to go into production later this year and it also has the Cross Up on its books in Europe, but considering it is pulling the regular city car from its local lineup both of the small SUVs have been dismissed as an option for Australia.

Instead it is expected that a production version of 2012's Cross Coupe concept will fill the gap below the next generation Tiguan, which is expected to grow in size when it is revealed next year.